What was shaping up to be a rather tame day at the races yesterday after the first four races, suddenly erupted into a show of superb ‘reinsmanship’ by Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas.

The former champion jockey rode an astounding natural six winners from seven rides on the day’s 10-race programme, but was disqualified aboard one of his mounts, leaving him with five winners for the evening.

Cardenas’ winners were underlined by the vastly improved chestnut gelding Peking Cruz, who chalked up his fourth-consecutive win after winning the seventh race — the top-rated Open Allowance event on the card over five and a half.

Peking Cruz didn’t have his usual fast start. Instead, he was the last of the six runners to leave the gates when the starter Michael Simms let them go. However, Peking Cruz recovered quickly and surged to the lead running the half mile (800m) and began to open on the field headed by Without Exception (Omar Walker).

Although Without Exception was gaining in the final stages of the race, Peking Cruz had done all the work before to win by three parts of a length in the end. Peking Cruz ran a career-best 1:05.1 to remain unbeaten over the distance.

Cardenas first visited the winners’ enclosure in the fifth race when he won aboard Tricky One for trainer Anthony Nunes over six furlongs (1,200m). Cardenas and Nunes also came together conquering the sixth race with Mr Pantheon, to win the Restricted Allowance event over five and a half furlongs (1,100m).

The celebration continued in the eighth race when Cardenas guided home It’s A Rap for breeder, owner, and trainer Carl Anderson over six and a half furlongs (1,300m), before wrapping up his fifth win aboard the Dennis Lee-trained Hologram Shadow in the ninth race over six furlongs (1,200m).

Cardenas then rode Ne cromancer to victory in the final event over five furlongs (1,000m) on the round course, his sixth winner on the day.

However, after a lengthy steward’s inquiry, Necromancer was disqualified for causing interference in the race and was placed out of the frame.

“The horses were running for me today,” said Cardenas. “Unfortunately I got disqualified in one, but riding five winners on a single race programme is a great achievement and I am happy. I will continue to do the hard work,: he said.

— Ruddy Allen